Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Community
Big Bend National Park
Photographed By James Hulse, March 14, 2023
1. Community Marker
In 1939, Maggie Smith ran the store and played a significant role in the lives of families on both sides of the river. She performed weddings, loaned money, delivered babies, and even doctored wounds.
"There was real amistad and understanding. When people across the river needed help, they came. And they helped us, believe me."
Lovie Langford Whitaker, J.O. Langford's daughter.
Captions
Upper Right: Maggie Smith at the counter, 1943. People came here to shop, trade, collect mail, and catch up on the latest news.
Middle Right: The interior was an eclectic mix of museum collections, store goods, and post office, circa 1930.
Lower Right: Hancock - the mail carrier - on a weekly delivery to the Hot Springs from Marathon, circa 1930s.
(images courtesy of the Whitaker Collection)
Erected by National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans
this page online
Location. 29° 10.656′ N, 102° 59.925′ W. Marker is in Big Bend National Park, Texas, in Brewster County. Marker is on Hot Springs Road, 1.6 miles south of Rio Grande Road, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located east of the parking lot along the Hot Springs Trail and Rio Grande River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Big Bend National Park TX 79834, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hot Springs Historic District (a few steps from this marker); If You Build It... (within shouting distance of this marker); Rock Art at Hot Springs (within shouting distance of this marker); Reminders of the Past (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Healing Waters (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cool Mountains (approx. 2.3 miles away); River and Springs (approx. 2.3 miles away); Chihuahuan Desert (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Big Bend National Park.
More about this marker. The marker is located on the grounds of the Big Bend National Park which requires
Photographed By James Hulse, March 14, 2023
2. The Community Marker in front of the post office and store
Also see . . . Hot Springs Historic District. Big Bend National Park
The Hot Springs Historic District preserves a rich history of human occupation from thousands of years ago to the not-so-distant past. Visitors can study rock art left behind on the limestone cliffs, picture farms of corn, squash, and beans along the river's floodplain, or imagine what it would have been like to meet at the Hot Springs Post Office in the early 1900s to collect your mail each Monday.(Submitted on March 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed By James Hulse, March 14, 2023
3. Inside view of the post office and store with art work on the back wall
Photographed By James Hulse, March 14, 2023
4. The front of the building with the Community Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
